# OpenCancer

Free AI tool, no signup, that explains your records in plain English, finds trials and prepares questions for appointments. Answers cite NCCN guidelines, and Cancer Commons scientists can review your case.

Author: Kevin Wimer
Canonical URL: https://kevinwimer.com/companies/opencancer/
Stable ID: 97387608-fc0a-4abb-9fe7-967b9380ac33
Revision: 3617e4f8-263b-4c59-9961-7bedc32bd760
Published: 2026-10-25T02:18:32.515Z
Updated: 2026-10-25T02:18:32.515Z
Reviewed: 2026-10-23

## Who this is for
For patients and caregivers who want help organizing records, understanding reports and preparing questions. Inclusion is not a recommendation or a finding that this tool is right for your situation.

OpenCancer is a free AI assistant for people with cancer. It translates records into plain English, looks for clinical trials you might miss and helps you prepare questions for your next appointment. It was started by cancer survivors: CEO Ari Akerstein, who managed his own treatment for an aggressive blood cancer, and Brad Power, co-founder of Cancer Patient Lab.

## What they offer

- Plain-English explanations of reports and records.
- Clinical trial searches.
- Questions to bring to appointments.
- Answers that show their sources, grounded in NCCN guidelines.
- Review by PhD cancer scientists from Cancer Commons when you want more than an AI answer.

## How it works and what it costs

Use it on the website. OpenCancer says it's free with no signup, and that it takes no pharma sponsorships and doesn't sell your data (checked October 23, 2026).

## How it fits with other services here

My [AI research guide](/resources/ai-cancer-research/) covers how to use tools like this safely. [Yuga Bio](/companies/yuga-bio/) is a workspace for records and AI research. For a human expert review, see Cancer Commons.

## Questions I would ask

- Which sources did this answer use, and are they current?
- How do I request a scientist review of my case?
- What happens to records I upload?

## Contacts

- Website: [opencancer.ai](https://opencancer.ai/)
- About: [opencancer.ai/about](https://opencancer.ai/about)
- Email: ari@opencancer.ai

## Limits and context
Features are reported by the provider unless noted, as of October 2026. AI answers can be wrong or incomplete; check anything important with your care team and review the privacy terms before uploading records.

## Relationships and disclosures
I have no financial or business relationship with OpenCancer.

## Sources
- [About OpenCancer](https://opencancer.ai/about) — OpenCancer; official; checked 2026-10-23; Founders Ari Akerstein (CEO) and Brad Power; CMO Chris Apfel MD/PhD; records translated to plain English, trials, appointment questions; 'No pharma sponsorships, no selling your data'; answers grounded in NCCN guidelines; PhD cancer scientists review cases; 'Free, no signup'; ari@opencancer.ai.
- [OpenCancer](https://opencancer.ai/) — OpenCancer; official; checked 2026-10-23; Free AI answers reviewed by Cancer Commons scientists.

Organization website: https://opencancer.ai/

Organization type: Company

Services: AI tools for research, Research & navigation, Clinical trial navigation

Community focus: People with cancer, Caregivers

Information/access: [Try OpenCancer](https://opencancer.ai/)

Service status: available

## Company facts
- **Cost:** Free, no signup, per OpenCancer (checked October 23, 2026). (Sources: about)
- **Human review:** PhD cancer scientists from Cancer Commons. (Sources: about, home)
- **Funding:** No pharma sponsorships and no selling data, per OpenCancer. (Sources: about)

Topics: records, clinical-trials
Capabilities: medical-records, research-support, clinical-trials

Related record IDs: 9f20f130-cad1-494e-bf40-bd02d30f01cd, 892119f9-0439-4e43-b467-66c99bc7be7c, bcbf518f-872e-434c-b031-3d6c266ceaa4

Follow Kevin on X: https://x.com/kevinace

Educational information, not an individualized treatment recommendation.